Tuning mechanism for stringed instruments.



No. 726,706. PATENTED APR.'28, 1903.,

A. LANG.

TUNING MECHANISM FOR STRINGBD INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 1, 1902.

NO MODEL.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR LANG, on 'NEW YORK, N. Y.

TUNING MECHANISM. FOR- sr'ncxrrcn'r on forming part a Letters Patent N o. 726,706, dated. April as, 1903.

Application filed December 1, 1902. Serial No. 13 3334. (No model.)

To al Z whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR LANG, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, Brooklyn borough, in the county of Kings and State of New York,lh-ave invent shallbe simple and inexpensive, as regards construction, which shall be durable, eflicient, and reliable in practical service, which shall embody features of construction whereby marked permanency in the conjuncture of the operative parts thereof shallbe insured, which shall be attractive in appearance, and which shall possess certain well-de-- fined advantages over prior analogous mechanisms. V

The invention consists inthenovel disposition and arrangement of the various operative parts thereof, whereby the attainment of the foregoing objects is rendered practicable, in certain combinations, and in certain details of construction, all of which willibe specifically referred to hereinafter-fend set forth in the appended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the" accompanying drawings, wherein similar reference-numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, and as to said drawings- V Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tuning mechanism embodying my said improve-- ments.

Fig. 2 is a face view of the gearwheel which forms an element of my improved mechanism. Fig. 3 is a detail view, partly in section, showing certain of the parts in readiness for permanent conjunction. Fig. 4 is a vieW'in perspective,illustrating the form and construction of the string-post,

which constitutes an element'of my improved mechanism.

Having reference to the accompanying r1rawings,2 denotes a base-plate of any appropriate construction and ordinarily formed from sheet metal. Itisdesigned tobe affixed to the neck-piece of a banjo, guitar, or other stringed musicalinstrurnentin the usual manner. Thereis arranged to bear rotatively in the base-plate 2 a string-post, which comprises a main portion'3 of a given diameter, a manysided portion 3 of a less diameter than the main portion 3, and an extension 3 of a less diameter than and projecting beyond the many-sided portion 3.

In practice'the many-sided portion of the string-post aforenamed projects outwardly through the plate 2 by way ofasuitable opening formed in the latter, and the circumferential segments of said-many-sided portion just mentioned as being formed therein.

There is mounted on themany-sided portion of the string-post at the outer side of the plate 2 a gear wheel 4, which has auirregular central opening, such opening by preference conforming in general contour to the crosssectional contour of the many-sided portion of the string-post, and said gear-wheel has a recessed outer face,"as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings.

It will here be observed that the length of the what less than the thickness of the gear-Wheel 4 from the base of the latters recess to the rear side thereof, which'variation in dimensions insures the seating of the washer 4 on athe base of the recess of the gear-wheel 4, said washer being let onto the extension 3 at the outer side of the geaiswheel 4. I

The foregoing construction is important, for the reason that where his availed of the washer 4 serves to obviate undue setting or locking of the parts against rotative action under the operation of upsetting the outer endof the extension 3 which is resorted to in" assembling the parts permamently for practical service, said washer accordingly seating directly and only on the gear-wheel 4 and-being formed from material somewhat resilient or yielding, as thin sheet metal. Further, the yielding action of the washer 4 on' the gear-wheel 4 under the secured condition of the latter with respect to the stringpost prevents any voluntary shifting move ment of saidapest with respect to the plate 2,

many-sided portion of the string-post is somebear rotatively on said plate at the opening any like movement of the gear-wheel along the many-sided portion of the string-post,-

and at the same time'permits the string-post, with the gear-wheel 4 mounted thereon, to be freely rotated in either direction.

The washer 4' constitutes a separate element of my improved mechanism and may be colored in contrast with the gear-Wheel 4, thus enhancing the appearance of the mechanism as a whole, and by employing the washer 4 and other details of construction herein specified I obtain an elastic adjustment of the gear-wheel 4 with respect'to the string-post which I make use of.

As an element whereby the string-post may be rotated in opposite directions in the practical operation of the mechanism and through the medium of the gearwheel 4 I employ the usual worm-threaded stem 4", bearing rotatively in opposing lugs 5 5, with which the plate 2 is provided, the threads of said stem being at all times in mesh with the gearwheel 4. Said stem is also provided with the usual'finger-piece 6.

It will be seen that my improved mechanism is particularly well adapted for the purposes for which it is designed and, further, that the same may be modified to some extent without materially departing from the spirit and principle of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A tuning mechanism for stringed musical instruments comprising a base-plate; a string-post projecting outwardly through said plate and bearing rotatively therein; a gearwheel elastically adjusted on said string-post,

at the outer side of said base-plate and means for rotating said string-post through the medium of said gearwheel, substantially as herein specified.

2. A tuning mechanism for stringed musical instruments comprising a base-plate; a string-post having a many-sided portion, projecting outwardly through said base-plate, and bearing rotatively therein; a gear-wheel on said many-sided portion of the string-post, at the outer side of said base-plate; a yielding washer at the outer side of said gearwheel, on said post and bearing'upwardly against said gear-wheel, the latter being thicker than the length of said many-sided portion of the string-post; means for holding said washer in place; and means for rotating said string-post through the medium of said gear-wheel, substantially as herein specified.

3. A tuning mechanism for stringed musical instruments comprising a base-plate; a string-post havinga many-sided portion projecting outwardly through said base-plate and bearing rotatively therein; a gear-wheel on said many-sided portion of the string-post, at the outer side of said plate, said post hav-' ing; a reduced extension projecting beyond its many-sided portion; a yielding washer on said post extension and bearing inwardly against said gear-wheel, said extension being upset at its outer end for holding said washer in place; and means for rotating said string-post through the medium of said gear-wheel, sub stantially as herein specific ARTHUR LANG lVitnesses:

W. H. RUBY, MAX B. A. DORING. 

